CLINIC’s network grew in one big step in February with the addition of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service agencies: 26 organizations with an additional 11 sub-offices. The CLINIC network stands at about 360 organizations with affiliates now in the District of Columbia and 49 states (lacking only Wyoming).

LIRS and CLINIC have long had partnerships on different fronts. In the 1990s they cofounded the Detention Watch Network. At about the same time, LIRS contracted to use CLINIC’s attorney-of-the-day hotline for its affiliates that offered immigration legal services. The legal staff of LIRS agencies have long taken CLINIC immigration trainings.

And the two organizations have frequently worked together on shared advocacy priorities.

“Having LIRS affiliates join CLINIC not only increases the total number of our affiliates but adds another network within our own,” said Jeff Chenoweth, CLINIC’s Capacity Building director. “The agreement further strengthens our mutual, Gospel-driven missions. This is particularly important as nonprofits, faith-based and otherwise, serve the foreign-born under many challenges on the national and local level.”

“LIRS is excited about the launch of CLINIC partnership,” said Kay Bellor, LIRS Vice President for Programs. “By supporting our partners’ membership, we look forward to a stronger LIRS network of legal service providers, having cost effective access to superior legal training and technical support. CLINIC is already a great partner, but we couldn’t be a happier about establishing even stronger ties between us.”

The 37 new members of the network stretch from Massachusetts to Vancouver, Washington, and into the south from Phoenix to Florida. The organizations include those that specialize in immigration legal assistance as well as refugee resettlement agencies. The 26 organizations include:

• Ascentria Care Alliance, Worcester, Massachusetts
• Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, Utica, New York
• Refugee Services of Texas, Fort Worth (has a sub-office in Houston)
• Canopy of Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville
• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Omaha (has two sub-offices in Lexington and Grand Island)
• Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Falls Church, Virginia (two sub offices in Washington, D.C. and Hyattsville, Maryland)
• Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville
• Lutheran Services of Florida, Tampa
• Inspiritus, Atlanta
• Lutheran Services Carolinas, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Lutheran Services Carolinas, Columbia, South Carolina
• Bethany Christian Services, Allentown, Pennsylvania
• Bethany Christian Services, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Bethany Christian Services, Roslyn, Pennsylvania
• Lutheran Community Services of the Northwest, Portland, Oregon
• Lutheran Community Services of the Northwest, Vancouver, Washington
• Lutheran Community Services of the Northwest, Tacoma, Washington
• Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, Denver
• Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Phoenix
• Samaritas, Grand Rapids, Michigan (has a sub-office in Battle Creek)
• Samaritas, Troy, Michigan
• RefugeeOne, Chicago
• Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (has a sub-office in Madison)
• Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sioux Falls
• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Minneapolis (has a sub-office in St. Cloud)
• Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, Fargo